‘Teacher of the Month’ drives students to be successful

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — School is out for the summer, but at least one New Hanover County teacher is still doing his thing in the classroom, and behind the wheel.

Corbin Clay is a science teacher at New Hanover High School, where he’s worked for the past 16 years.

“I teach foundations of bio which is this class here, Earth Science, Marine Science, and NC Wildlife,” Mr. Clay said.

You might think all of those classes would keep him busy enough, but Mr. Clay doesn’t stop there. For the past eight years he’s also taught Driver’s Ed, which continues into the summer months.

“It’s been fun,” Mr. Clay said. “It’s a unique school with really good kids and really good faculty.”

Mr. Clay’s classroom is definitely the place to be, with several tanks housing a variety of aquatic animals and reptiles, like a bearded dragon named Peanut.

“Peanut is great motivation for some students cause they can’t get Peanut out of the tank to play with him until work is done,” Mr. Clay said.

Whether it’s Peanut, or something else, Principal Philip Sutton says Mr. Clay knows how to get students motivated.

“Last semester, Mr. Clay reached out to different businesses to get some different prizes and rewards for his students,” Principal Sutton said. “We saw the greatest proficiency we’ve had in our biology scores thanks to him.”

As Teacher of the Month, Ms. Rivenbark received a $400 prize courtesy of Beach Bagels and Subs and Fulford Heating and Cooling. She also received an additional $200 thanks to an anonymous donor.

Click here to nominate a teacher for the honor.